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English diary: No video evidence of Jadeja-Anderson altercation?

July 20, 2014 11:50 IST
Ravindra Jadeja

In a fresh twist to the alleged altercation between James Anderson and Ravindra Jadeja, it has been claimed that there is no video evidence of the incident for which a preliminary ICC hearing will be conducted on Tuesday in London.

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According to a report by ESPNCricinfo, "Indian officials have questioned why crucial video footage that could have shed light on the alleged altercation between James Anderson and Ravindra Jadeja is not available."

The incident occurred during the lunch break of the second day's play in the opening Test in Nottingham. The Indians have alleged that Anderson pushed and abused Jadeja, while the English have also counter-charged the visiting all-rounder.

The hearing under the ICC's Code of Conduct will be held over teleconference with Australian Gordon Lewis presiding over it.

"While players from both teams are set to provide conflicting evidence, India have requested that footage from a video camera situated just outside the dressing rooms where the incident occurred be made available.

"A Nottinghamshire spokesman confirmed that a camera had been installed in the relevant area but insisted that it had not been active at the time," the website reported.

The Indian management is not too amused but the England and Wales Cricket Board and Nottinghamshire have denied tampering with evidence, the report stated.

- NEXT: New pitch controversy at Lord's

Sweeper brings undue attention to Lord's pitch

July 20, 2014 11:50 IST
A groundsman looks on after sweeping the wicket during day three of 2nd Investec Test match between England and India at Lord's Cricket Ground (This image is for representational purposes only)

The furore over the "poor" pitch at TrentBridge is yet to settle but that has not stopped a new controversy from brewing in the India-England second Test after MCC was forced to tender an apology for the manner in which one of its groundstaff swept the Lord’s pitch.

"MCC were forced to apologise and defend the conduct of a member of their groundstaff after Kevin Pietersen drew attention to his method of sweeping the pitch at lunch," reported The Independent after third day's play on Saturday.

"Shane Doherty's work attracted the attention of Sky Sports' commentators and Pietersen was moved to post a video on social media, captioned with the remark "Unbelievable" -- followed, in customary KP fashion, by seven exclamation marks," the newspaper stated.

Doherty was then approached by fourth umpire David Millns but MCC, the keepers of the Lord's Cricket Ground, asserted that it was "a genuine, honest mistake, and there was no intent to damage the pitch".

However, Pietersen said there was something more to it.

"He knew what he was doing," he wrote on Twitter.

The newspaper claimed that the visiting Indians will not make any issue of the incident.

"Indian cricket sources indicated that there would be no complaint from the team, although the final decision would rest with the captain, MS Dhoni, and his players. Whatever the explanation -- and there is no reason to believe Doherty was anything other than careless -- it was another talking point in a series that has already had plenty of them."

During the opening Test in Nottingham, the groundstaff drew considerable flak for preparing a placid pitch which resulted in a tame draw. The track was labelled poor by the match referee yesterday and an ICC investigation is underway on the matter.